OUR VIEW

Inouye seat entails tough calculations

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Dec 23, 2012

The death last week of U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye was a seismic event in the political history of the state. As in an actual tectonic shift, Hawaii’s foundational strength will be put to the test.
Inouye’s name was frequently invoked by other lawmakers, even other members of the congressional delegation, as the state’s chief political resource. Newly elected U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono campaigned against her Republican rival, former Gov. Linda Lingle, pointing out the value of her partisan alliance with Inouye as being part of a “one-two punch.”

The death last week of U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye was a seismic event in the political history of the state. As in an actual tectonic shift, Hawaii’s foundational strength will be put to the test.

Inouye’s name was frequently invoked by other lawmakers, even other members of the congressional delegation, as the state’s chief political resource. Newly elected U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono campaigned against her Republican rival, former Gov. Linda Lingle, pointing out the value of her partisan alliance with Inouye as being part of a “one-two punch.” Login for more...